Vahlgellan Buys Time.

From FiranMUX

Setting: Festival Pavillion. Fall. Firan time: 12:47:34 AM on Thu Nov 1, in the year 17 A.U.

 Shara Istabannos is auctioning off a dinner date with Eliana Rissik. 
 Prince Vahlgellan and Lady Rissik have had a terribly messy breakup 
 stemming from the fact that he had intimate relations with the 
 Lady Zeysani. 

Summary: Vahlgellan spends nearly every steni he has to buy the date with Eliana. She rushes out of the Pavillion, flustered. Vahlgellan finally catches up with her back in Anarinuell. She proceeds to stomp on his ego.

You notice Nydiam enter.

Eliana flushes deeply. "I.... I was not planning.... It's not really .... I wasn't intending to play." She can't think of a graceful way of getting out of this, though.

Elianos chuckles at the young girl, "I will, I will indeed."

Shara sutdies Eliana for a long moment, then gives her most reassuring smile. Or as reassuring as her smiles can be. "I leave it to you, but it -is- all for a good cause."

Nydiam jeers at Eliana, "Oh come on, you might be worth a steni or two..." He laughs richly.

Savni blushes, again, not really knowing what to say.

Elianos drops the woven basket.

Eliana glances about, still red. A few other catcalls catch at her dignity. "All right," she says, although she's clearly reluctant.

Vahlgellan strolls in quietly, hands behind his back.

Shara looked at you. Shara smiles at Eliana. "Then a short pause as we let Eliana retrieve her basket and we will continue."

Eliana completely misses Vahlgellan's entrance, eyes on the stage. She hesitates. "Would it be possible to get it afterwards?" You really want to let a reluctant auctionee out of your sight?

Nydiam comes to Eliana's side, "I could always offer mine, instead, and for go myself being auctioned..." He offers cheerily.

Savni can't help but take a long, appraising look. At the basket, that is.

Shara considers that for a moment. "Well, I don't suppose it truly matters... you can tell us what is in the basket. Come up here then. And who shall start the bidding on Lady Eliana?" She then peers at Nydiam. "You will -not-! I've been looking forward to auctioning you off."

Vahlgellan looks casually at Nydiam, strolling about. He slowly makes his way about 2/3 of the way to the front of the pavillion.

Nydiam says, "I will say ten thousand..."

Shara says, "Ten thousand to begin from Lord Nydiam, who shall give me twenty?"

Savni smiles "It's a very nice basket. And the food smells wonderful."

Eliana shakes her head to Nydiam. "Thank you, Nydiam, but... as Lady Shara says..." She moves to the front, hesitation in every step.

Aldrissa comes into the pavillion from outside.

Vahlgellan snorts at Nydiam's bid. "Ten thousand? Come on, m'lord. You can do better. I say one hundred thousand." He shakes his head in amusement at Nydiam's garb.

Eliana goes stark white.

Aldrissa comes in, looking around curiously.

Shara bows her head in acknowledgement of Vahlgellan's bid, chuckling. "And who shall say 150,000 then?"

Amanaki leaves the Pavillion.

Aldrissa puts a hand over her mouth, her eyes twinkling with laughter when she sees what's going on.

Savni stands talking with Elianos, her pale cheeks burning red. She seems to be holding his basket.

Nawar says, "Kisses aren't exceptable bids are they?"

Eliana looks a little bit trapped, staying perfectly still where she stands. Gives a new meaning to 'on the block' by her expression.

Shara shakes her head no, chuckling. "I have 100,000... who shall do better than that?"

A breeze blows across the lands making fires everywhere flicker.

Nydiam turns his head to the voice. He sees Vahlgellan, and then a slow redness creeps up his neck. He looks back up to the stage, silent.

Aldrissa's brows skyrocket and her shoulders shake with suppresed laughter.

Elianos hands a drink to Savni, "Well, now, I do appreciate your bidding on me, young lady."

Savni smiles "Thank you, Mi'Lord. It seemed a novel idea, and I am very honored to meet you."

Shara follows Nydiam's gaze and hmmms, her good cheer quieting somewhat before she cheerfully adds, "And one hundred thousand going twice... it seems a bargain for such a spirited and lovely young lady."

Vahlgellan clears his throat and steps over to where Nydiam is. He peers the man up and down for a second, then shakes his head. To the auctioneer, he shouts, "I've changed my mind, Lady Istabannos. Make it one million stenis."

Nydiam looks at Vahlgellan and then says tartily, "Something on your mind, your Highness?"

Nawar blinks.

Aldrissa laughs. She can't help it.

Vahlgellan grins at Nydiam. "I was just going to say how adorable you look in that getup, Lord Nydiam. How nice of you to ask."

Eliana goes... even more pale. Amazing that that's even possible. Shell-shocked might be a good word for her expresison. Or scared witless.

Vahlgellan turns around and faces the 'bidding-block', eyes locking upon Eliana's face.

Shara slams the gavel down before any more trouble can be caused. "Sold to his highness, Prince Vahlgellan." She turns towards Eliana and offers a tiny smile. "Well, time to go get that basket after all it appears."

Vahlgellan smiles, pleased. His eyes remain fixed on Lady Rissik.

Elianos pats the young Savni on the hand, "So now, why dont you tell me a bit about yourself?"

Eliana stammers, "Umm. Yes. I suppose that... I... " She shakes.

Aldrissa calls out, "Who says money can't buy love?" She winks and blows a kiss to Vahlgellan teasingly.

Nydiam tilts his head and quips to Vahlgellan, "I am flattered, no, really, I am."

Shara looks at Vahlgellan and curtsies. "Your donation will be much appreciated by the Soup Kitchen, your highness."

Savni says quietly, trying to fight off her accent. "My name is Savni, Sir. I am a jewler, and a weaver..."

Sadin replies to Aldrissa's original question:"I say. And yes, I wouldn't mind sitting down."

Vahlgellan frowns at Nydiam. "Is there a problem my Lord? Or are you just embittered by having to wear that....what on Aerval is that that you're wearing?"

Eliana stares at Vahlgellan for a long moment, and doesn't even react to Aldrissa's taunt. "Excuse me..." she says hurriedly, eyes glistening as she moves quickly away from the stage and tiwards the door.

Elianos smiles, "Ah, really. Those are very decent professions, mes. I am glad to hear that."

Vahlgellan smiles to Shara, but then chases after the fleeing Eliana.

Eliana leaves the Pavillion.

Aldrissa murmurs to Sadin, "Think he'll catch her?"

You leave the Pavillion.

[ Chase all the way back to Anarinuell ]

Vahlgellan shouts, "Wait!"

Eliana stops, finally, trying to muster up a forbidding look.

Vahlgellan runs up to you, face flushed, tears brimming at the edges of his eyes. His voice is ragged with anguish. He falls down in front of you, exhausted. "Wait. Please. Ellie. Wait," he calls from his hands and knees.

Eliana steps back, unsure what to do, She clasps her hands, her own eyes bright with tears. "What? What do you want? Why did you do that? I told you,..... " Well, no, she didn', really. If her voice is any indication from the way it shakes unevenly, she's holding to composure by a shred.

Vahlgellan leans back, righting himself from hands-and-knees to simply knees. Out of breath, he asserts, "It was all I had, Eliana. All the money I had in the world." His chest heaves, "I gave it up for you. I'll give anything in my power to give...for you. Anything. I love you."

Eliana stares, shaking her head. She covers her eyes with her hands, shoulders shaking. "I didn't want you to do that," she protests. "I.... I don't know that I can forgive you. You did too much. It was just too much. I couldn't take that, no her. Not... Not that." She pauses, then whispers, "You know why I sent them back."

Vahlgellan closes his eyes, blinking back tears. He nods, and chokes out, "Y..yes. I know why. I can't say I didn't deserve it, either. But," he swallows, "There's no changing what's happened. Eliana...I'm so damned sorry. I'm begging you, love." He looks down at the ground by your feet. "There's nothing in this world I love as much as I love you. Nothing."

Eliana lowers her hands from her face, but they shake almost uncontrollably. She grips the edges of her palla tightly in an effort to hide it, but her expression twists. "Oh gods, Vahl. I feel like... I feel like I've had my heart torn out then out back in shreds. What am I supposed to do?" She's rooted to the spot where she stands, though. Her voice continues to quaver. "I'm not supposed to love you, dammit. I hate you. I really do." She might mean it, on some level.

Vahlgellan starts trembling uncontrollably. He can't keep the tears from falling now; his face turns bright red as they stream down his face. Sobbing, he begs, "Please! You're all I have. You're all there is in my world. I can't lose you. Not like this."

Eliana whimpers a little bit, face anguished. Despite herself, she starts to take a step forward, to extend a hand, but then she stops, closing her eyes as her cheeks streak with tears. She stays there a moment, squaring her shoulders, and opening her eyes again. Some shell of determination needles her voice, even hoarse as it is. "You should have thought of that before you did it. You can't buy me back, when all I ever asked... when it was so simple... all I wanted...." Her voice breaks off, drawn to almost a whisper before she continues, "But it's too late. WE've already lost. Please don't call on me anymore." Eliana looks as if saying that hurt her more than she'd like to admit.

Vahlgellan looks up at your through his tears, face showing the painful blow you've dealt. He pleads again, voice barely audible, "Ellie...please....please don't..."

Eliana shakes her head, crying unabashedly. She takes a step back. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Vahl. I'm so, so sorry...." Another step, two, and she looks at the ground instead of you.

Vahlgellan shakes his head in denial, "Noooo. Please, Ellie...I can't live my life without you. You ..." he closes his eyes, looks away, and begins to recite from memory, "I'm not sure what's proper to do in this ... situation. Should I send you gifts everyday to remind you how special you are to me? Should I write love poetry like those philosophers do, to let you know how much you fill my thoughts? Should I just tell you over and over again how you make my day more complete just by looking at me across a crowded street, or by the way you smile at me when I greet you?" He takes a deep breath and struggles to his feet, continuing, "I'm not good at poetry, and I don't have the money I'd need to buy you the things I want to get for you. I couldn't buy the earth, anyway."

[ OOC Note: He's reciting a love letter she wrote to him. ]

Eliana chokes, a hand flying to her mouth. She remembers that, and those words. Her eyes look everywehre but at you -- but keep getting drawn back. "Oh... that's not fair," she whispers. "I.... am going to have to leave. Pleae don't," she says again, and flees eastwards, stumbling a bit as she goes.

You stop following Eliana.

Eliana heads east.

Vahlgellan winces, but does not follow. He watches her run away, regretful. Slowly, he brushes off his tunic, considering for a moment taking a trip to the Chimera Compound, but thinking the better of it. He instead turns to make his way back to the palace.

--